The LAB - Russian Arts Exchange

Russian Arts Exchange

In 1989, at the suggestion of John High, The LAB's literary curator, The LAB launched an impressive series of cultural events with the U.S.S.R. during the age of glasnost and perestroika, beginning with the invitation and presentation of four young poets from Moscow to the United States for a series of readings in Connecticut, New York City, San Francisco, Long Beach and Los Angeles. As a follow up to that series of events, The LAB collaborated with San Francisco artists and presenters to bring the work of over 100 performing, visual, literary, film and video artists to the U.S.S.R. for a month long festival in 1990. The LAB then brought the work of over 40 Russian artists working in diverse media to the sister festival in San Francisco in 1991. These festivals were co-sponsored locally by Artists' Television Access, Cinemateque, Intersection for the Arts, Southern Exposure, SF Camerawork and others.